This is a discussion on Looking to get a new radar detector... What are you using (Speed Demon Syndrome) within the Interior Mods forums, part of the Tech & Modifying & General Repairs category; To be honest does the weight of the knob help the shift or is it better to just upgrade the ...

I've been using my Escort Passport 8500 for years without a problem. Never fails to let me know when there's a cop coming just over the next hill. You really can't just "trust your eyes" because cops tend to hide behind hills and around corners just waiting for you to show up. If you see them, you're too late.

And BTW, going "7-9 MPH" over the speed limit isn't really speeding. You'll never get pulled over going that speed. So it's not your "situational awareness" that's keeping you from getting a ticket. Let me know how many times you're going 10-15 MPH over and you use your "eyes" to prevent a ticket.

Anyway, I know this is a radar detector thread, but there have been some shift knobs mentioned. I found this one to be absolutely perfect and it's heavy, too. I had metal knobs in the past, but they always got too hot or too cold for me. This one is 400 grams and leather. Just about perfect. See here:

I hear a lot about the V1, but I am a really big fan of Escorts. My dad has been using them all his life as he travels a lot for the company and right now he has the Passport 9500ix and he loves it. Ever since I joined up in the company I have been getting his Radar detectors from the previous year (he upgrades every year) so right now I have the Passport 8500 x50 and this one is great as well. But there is an unmistakeable difference between the 8500 x50 and the 9500ix. The biggest upgrade being the use of GPS in the 9500ix to "lockout" stray signals which becomes especially great when you travel the same road frequently. Another feature that I love about these Escorts is the ability to mute the warnings directly from the plug.

EDIT: I didn't realize but this just came out, Passport Max . This might be worth looking into as well.

I ended up getting the escort max. I like the GPS lockout, that works really nice.
So far i have not had any issues and this thing is quiet until it finds the police hiding. it will beep then it will reduce the volume so it wont get annoying.

+1 for the Escort Passport Max! Got this one recently to replace a faulty 8500. The 8500 was awesome but did have a lot of false alarms. The Max is just that...the MAX! GPS lockout is awesome...so far it's locked out every false signal on my 45 min drive to work. Every other time it's gone off there's been a LEO close by. Also, the Red Light Camera and Speed Trap alerts have been spot on.

It's a bit expensive but in my experience, I've gotten what I paid for. As far as Escort's additional services via your cell phone, etc...hasn't seemed like it would be worth the fees.

Yes, but Texas and Oklahoma usually have higher speed limits (70 two lane outside of city, 80 highway, etc), so they have built the 7-9 into the new limit. So if you go over by just a few it's faster than most of the country going 7-9 on a similar road.

I think every state should follow that model. If they fell 73 in a 65 is ok, make the speed limit 75 and ticket everyone going 76. Then you don't have to wonder how far each cop allows over. You are over or you aren't.

If they fell 73 in a 65 is ok, make the speed limit 75 and ticket everyone going 76. Then you don't have to wonder how far each cop allows over. You are over or you aren't.

Yes I agree - I drive right by cops doing 70 (with traffic) in a 55 here in NY - it makes no sense - the limit should be 70 ... or they should book everyone over 55 . But perhaps it's psychological - they know people will speed - so they deliberately make the limit low , so people drive appropriately ,
However , I thought heard that there were studies that on freeways people drive safer with higher speed limits - like like on autobahns - obviously not so in residential areas with foot traffic ...

Performance on cars has surpassed speed limits and low limits always allow cops to pull people over at the end of the month to fill quotas and get more money for the government. They know that if they need money or something they get stricter and pull more people over and write more tickets. Kinda lame but I like new roads!

I have had mine for 8 years, and it has worked great for me since day one. It has paid for itself several times over. I had it hard wired in my Cobra, and now in my WRX. I drove a lot during college and law school, so having the V1 was definitely a great asset on the highways. I also take it on any long distance trips with friends in their cars.

One issue with the Valentine is that it is a leaky detector, meaning it is detectable by newer radar detector detectors (except VG2), so if you are in a state where radar detectors are illegal, neither the Valentine nor the Escort are for you. You want something with a more serious magnesium case, to reduce the leak.

A friend of mine had the wireless Escort, which was nice, but since it was wireless it would go into a power save mode. It would still detect radar and alert you, but it was slower and less responsive than the Valentine.

Lastly, not to sound like an ad for Valentine (but it's true), once you live with the arrows, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Additionally, I believe Mike Valentine worked for Escort, and then left after he wanted to keep improving the technology, and Escort was content where they were (which was the best at the time). So he left and started Valentine because he wanted to be the best and keep getting better, which in turn, forced Escort to improve their tech.

Last edited by Nayrb37; 03-25-2014 at 03:41 PM.
Reason: Added link and more info.

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